BarcelonaBarça 2023-24 is already underway. This Monday, up to 26 footballers (14 from the first team and 12 more from the youth team) have ended their holidays and have gone to the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper to pass the corresponding medical tests. In the evening (7 p.m.) they will do the first training under the orders of Xavi Hernández. The footballers who took part in commitments with their national teams are still to arrive, and they will gradually join. The Barcelona coach has not made any distinctions regarding the first day back at work, but his intention is to reduce the group before going on tour next week.
As he did last season, Xavi will rule out players before packing, while the friendlies against Juventus, Arsenal, Real Madrid and Milan will also be a test for the rest of the footballers who do not have their guaranteeing place in the squad, but to whom the coach will give a chance to convince him. In fact, there are cases to be solved on every line, from goal to forward.
Ter Stegen, Peña and… Arnau Tenas?
The only question to be resolved in goal is whether Arnau Tenas will agree to sign a new contract with Barça after the club decided not to renew it. The vigatà would have tripled his salary if the organization had activated (before June 15) the clause in his contract for two more years. Barça, conditioned by fair play, he did not because Tenas would collect 1.3 million euros gross in the first year and 1.6 in the second. The entity, however, wants him to accept a lower offer. Xavi has taken a public position in favor of its continuation. The 22-year-old goalkeeper considers his time at the subsidiary to be over, and could accept better offers both financially and sportingly, but he is thinking about it because he is very cool. At the moment, he is on holiday after shining in the European under-21, in which the Spanish team lost against England (1-0) in the final on Saturday.
The Achilles heel of the right side
In defence, the list of central players is clear and has been strengthened with the arrival of Iñigo Martínez, a left-back, a profile that was not in the squad. The main toothache continues to be, as in recent years, the right side. Last season, after not being able to sign César Azpilicueta – he has just joined Atlético de Madrid –, Héctor Bellerín arrived at the last minute. The Catalan footballer, however, was never able to convince the coaches and left for the winter market. The position mainly fell to Jules Kounde, a centre-back who does not like playing on the wing, but is happy at Barça.
In his last public appearance, Xavi revealed to ARA’s question that he would be “very excited” to be able to strengthen himself in this position. The club, and especially Deco, follows Iván Fresneda, 18 years old and who plays for Valladolid. But to be able to carry out more operations – even to be able to register Gündogan – you must first sell. This is where Sergiño Dest comes into play, who would like to try to convince Xavi, but the American full-back (who has a salary cost of nearly 11 million) is one of the footballers the club wants to transfer. Julián Araujo, signed last year from the MLS, “is very strong and a winner of duels”, but raises doubts because of his zero experience in European football. As of now, Xavi has not yet decided if Dest and Araujo will travel on the tour. “We’ll just decide day by day”, they decide from the dressing room. The club’s priority is also to close the transfer of Lenglet to Tottenham.
The wish: Oriol Romeu before leaving for the United States
Aside from the right-back, Xavi’s biggest headache is having a replacement for Sergio Busquets as soon as possible. During the course, the pace of the competition makes tactical work difficult, as there are many pre-match and recovery sessions. On the other hand, in the pre-season is when the coaches of the teams competing in different tournaments can influence these aspects more. The coach does not expect to be without Busquets’ relief and would like him to arrive very soon. He doesn’t see Frenkie de Jong as a pivot, Nico – who will be out again this summer – doesn’t convince him either and the options in the squad – Marc Casadó (19 years old) and Pau Prim (17) – are promising, but the urgencies demand immediate performance.
Xavi’s dream replacement was either Martin Zubimendi (from Real Sociedad) or Joshua Kimmich (Bayern), but they are chimerical. For this reason, the coach has taken it upon himself to contact Oriol Romeu, who has had a great season with Girona after playing for seven consecutive seasons in the Premier League. Xavi has a relationship and understanding with Romeu, but the Girona club does not want to negotiate a transfer and refers to the close to 10 million euros of his termination clause. The midfielder from Ulldecona, who will not force the machine, joined today at the start of the pre-season with Girona. In terms of departures, Kessie is expected to leave when a good offer (both for the club and the player) arrives from Saudi Arabia, while Pablo Torre and Collado are also out.
Consensus with Abde and waiting for Vitor Roque
At the front, the indispensable pieces for the coach are Ansu Fati and Ferran Torres. Neither has managed to earn a starting role after a year and a half under Xavi. L’egarenc, however, has not told either of them not to count on them. The Spanish-Guinean, against the will of his father and his representative Jorge Mendes, is determined to stay at Barça. Ferran, if he is not clearly invited by Xavi to pack his bags, has no intention of leaving Barcelona either. The Valencian, who first arrived mid-season and the following pre-season was injured due to a foot injury, asks to start again and without physical problems to be able to earn a place. In addition, between pending repayments and an exit clause linked to City, Barça would need to sell him for an amount between 40 and 55 million euros.
Abde’s situation is different, after a transfer to Osasuna highly rated by the coaching staff, Xavi would like him to stay. In fact, in the front there is an excess of wingers who prefer to play on the right (Dembélé, Raphinha and Ferran) and deficiencies on the left. Although in terms of fair play the sale of Abde would not generate much salary margin because he has a low salary, the financial situation of the club may lead him to have to accept a transfer. At the same time, the club has sealed the signing of Vitor Roque (18 years) for 30 million (plus 31 in variables). In the absence of officiality, his arrival is expected from January.
And all together, with the renewal of Xavi agreed but without being effective. His salary and that of the coaching staff also count in it fair play and prefers to have the staff closed before signing a new contract. Barça 2023-24 is already rolling, but with a “very long market”, according to the sports management, in advance.
2023-07-10 12:08:33
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